The Hoyt Foundation March Newsletter |
From the Office of the President |
March is an important month for our family for many reasons. Our Mom, Judy Hoyt, would have turned 82 on March 8th. Our Dad, Dick Hoyt, passed away two years ago on March 17th. Last March The Hoyt Foundation donated a van to the Bracetti family to support them as the Mom, Rosa, had completely lost mobility as a result of ALS. |
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It also now opens Rick’s running season as he has chosen for his first race of the year to be one of his favorite’s the Holyoke St. Patrick’s race. For years Rick and Dad were a fixture at the race and in March of 2014 Dad and Rick were honored with the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade highest honor – the 2014 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Award. |
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Past recipients of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Award have included national figures author Kevin O’Hara, Pulitzer Prize-winner David McCullough, the Hon. Daniel Rooney, astronaut Catherine “Cady” Coleman, author Tom Clancy, actress Maureen O'Hara and the 2013 recipient, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin. In March of 2022 Dad and Rick were honored to be inducted into the Western Mass. Running Hall of Fame. |
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Following that great honor of being inducted into the Western Mass. Hall of Fame Rick asked his nephew’s Jaymes, Troy and Ryan Hoyt to continue the family tradition and push him in the in the St. Patrick’s Day Road Race. |
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This year Rick will be out there again this time with Jaymes, Ryan and Cameron Hoyt keeping the family motto of “YES YOU CAN” alive and well to ring in Spring! The Hoyt Family, Team Hoyt, And The Hoyt Foundation wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick’s Day! |
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This story is about dad's and my first official road race. After I wrote this message. "Dad, when we are running, my disability seems to disappear." |
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Dad knew we needed a new chair to run together. Dad had a few metal pipes at our house in Westfield Massachusetts. Mom knew a wheelchair Builder in New Hampshire. Dad, mom and I went to New Hampshire to meet with the wheelchair Builder. Six months later, the wheelchair |
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builder built dad's and my first running chair. Our first running chair was a triangle base with two bike wheels, one on each side of my seat. Both sides of the wheel covers were trash can lids. At the tip of the triangle base, was a small front wheel. My legs were straight out in front of me. Dad ran behind my Seat. There were handle bars that Dad held on to while racing. |
Dad's and my first official road race was in Springfield Mass. It was 10 K which is six point two miles. The road race was a part of a Greek party. Before the race, dad and I made a bet on the time, it would take us to finish the race. The bet was for a rum and coke after the race. Dad's bet was we would finish in over 30 minutes. My bet was we would finish in under 30 minutes. Our official time was 29 minutes and 30 seconds. |
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| Oh, man, that rum and coke tasted fantastic! Respectfully, Rick Hoyt
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| Dick and Judy Hoyt Inclusion Grant |
The grant cycle has closed and we have 17 applications! Amazing. We will start the review process and be making announcements of grant awards by June 1. Good luck to everyone who applied and thank you for your interest in making inclusion possible for everyone. |
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To build the character, self-confidence and self-esteem of America’s disabled young people through inclusion in all facets of daily life, Team Hoyt partners with like-minded nonprofits to help carry out our
purpose and passion. Our mission is too big, and there are too many youth to serve for Team Hoyt to run this race alone.
Motivational experts encourage individuals to discover their “why” in order to enjoy a rich and fulfilling life. Our parents led the way in defining our family’s “why.” We are proud to continue Judy and Dick’s legacy of “Yes, You Can!” through our long-standing partnership with Easterseals Massachusetts (ESMA).
In 2022, through the generosity of our community, Team Hoyt invested $50,000 in support of ESMA’s life-changing programs for young people with disabilities in Massachusetts. As a vocal and passionate educator, our mother advocated fiercely for Rick to have the resources and services to thrive in his academic pursuits including his years at Boston University. Today, thanks to an innovative program launched by ESMA in 2018, students with disabilities in Massachusetts have the best support in the country to succeed college.
Why is College Navigator so critical and worth significant investment from Team Hoyt and other philanthropists? Because 60% of students with disabilities drop out of college and only 14% of people
with disabilities without a college degree are employed. Of youth enrolled in College Navigator, 90% successfully graduate from college. A college degree doubles rate of competitive employment, diminishing the 60% disparity between those with and without disabilities.
According to ESMA President and CEO Paul Medeiros, the impact of earning a college degree through increased job security, better employment options, and higher earning potential increases quality of life and financial freedom for individuals with disabilities.
Last year, 215 students received one-on-one coaching and guidance through the College Navigator program with funding provided, in part, by Team Hoyt. Now, that’s a living tribute to our beloved parents, and to the power of “Yes, You Can!”
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Pictured Right: Check presentation $50,000 donation presented by Rick and Russ Hoyt to Easter Seals Chairman of the Board James Dennison |
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Team Hoyt's International Reach |
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Rick received a letter from Japan. It was from a teacher who found out about Team Hoyt on the internet. She showed a video to her students and they were inspired to write to Rick and send origami and videos of themselves practicing speeches in English and performing a song. Rick is working on a response. He is writing a letter and putting together a video to share with the students. It is a small world when we reach out to others. Rick has done it again inspiring students around the world! |
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Metrowest YMCA Inspiration Award |
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On March 9th the Metrowest YMCA presented Inspiration Awards to Rick Muhr, Susan Hurley and Bill Evans. |
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Past winners include:
2017 -- Dick and Rick Hoyt 2018 -- David McGillivray 2019 -- Becca Pizzi and Bill Rodgers
2020 -- Joe Andruzzi 2021 -- Doug Flutie and Joan Benoit Samuelson 2022 -- Jack Fultz and Tatyana McFadden Members of the Hoyt Family showed up at the YMCA Inspiration awards wearing teal to honor Susan Hurley who has won her battle against ovarian cancer and is now is remission! |
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Dave McGillivray presented the award to Bill Evans.
Becca Pizzi Presented the award to Rick Muhr.
Russ Hoyt was given the special honor of introducing Susan Hurley to accept her award. Susan has many connections to the Hoyt family and while introducing Susan, Russ shared the following:
“Susan Hurley, a North Reading, Massachusetts native and the second of four sisters, discovered her love for cheerleading at an early age. Her infectious enthusiasm and unwavering appreciation for healthy competition landed her a position as a professional cheerleader for the New England Patriots.
Cheerleading was not Susan’s only athletic passion as she has run the Boston Marathon 15 times with a PR of 3 hours and 16 minutes! And in 1989 alongside Dad and Rick she completed the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. In 2008, Susan combined her passions for cheerleading and running by founding Charity Teams. For the past 15 years, Charity Teams has assisted small local nonprofits with endurance fundraising opportunities for marathons such as the Boston Marathon, the New York City Marathon, and the Falmouth Road Race, helping them raise over $30 million under Susan’s guidance and support.
Charity Teams has helped thousands of novice runners train and compete in their first marathons while making their fundraising efforts fun. Susan's runners love her and each other, as demonstrated in their legendary themed runs such as The Superhero 17 and the Hop21. Susan has been instrumental in establishing running programs such as Team MR8 for the Martin Richard Foundation, Team 261 Fearless founded by Kathrine Switzer, Team Inspire for the 26.2 Foundation, and a rebrand of our own Team Hoyt. Her fan club includes high-profile athletes such as Joe Andruzzi, Matt Light, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and Rob ‘Gronk’ Gronkowski and most notably Rick Hoyt.
Susan's charitable contributions also extend to beautifying New England by coordinating the establishment of the Bobbi Gibb Statue in Hopkinton, raising funds for the Johnny J. Kelley Statue in Mystic Connecticut, and most recently leading an initiative to establish a Gronk Playground on the Boston Esplanade with Rob Gronkowski.
Susan's two children, Ryan and Max, may be her greatest achievement in her eyes, but they told me that they recognize her undying support for charitable causes and her relentless cheerleading as her greatest achievements. Even through her recent challenges, Susan has not put down her pompoms, and she plans to run the 2023 Boston Marathon making it 16 Boston’s and raise funds to support a statue of Meb Keflezighi on the Boston Marathon course.”
It was an amazing event and The Hoyt Foundation (family members pictured below with Rick MacPherson and Peter Waisgerber) made a contribution of $10,000 to help the YMCA continue it’s mission of being a true cause-driven charitable organization for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. |
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The Y offers state-of-the-art fitness and recreation facilities and a variety of programs to help people of all ages and all abilities support a healthy body, mind, and spirit. We also strengthen our community by offering programs that address food insecurity, chronic disease prevention, and social isolation. We are committed to ensuring that every community member has the opportunity to find their Y. |
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